Artwork
Storm on the Meuse River

Storm on the Meuse River is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Hendrik Martenszoon Sorgh. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The imagery of the river and the storm serves as a direct representation of the maritime challenges characteristic of the genre.
Hendrik Martenszoon Sorgh's 1668 marine painting depicts a dramatic storm scene on the Meuse River. The composition focuses on ships navigating turbulent waters, emphasizing the raw power of nature over human endeavor. As a marine work, the piece captures the perilous conditions faced by vessels during severe weather.
The imagery of the river and the storm serves as a direct representation of the maritime challenges characteristic of the genre.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1668, this marine painting by Hendrik Martenszoon Sorgh utilizes oil paint applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 47.5 cm in height and 64.5 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition depicts a dramatic storm scene on the Meuse River, featuring ships navigating turbulent waters.
The handling of the medium captures the atmospheric intensity of the weather event, characteristic of the artist's approach to maritime subjects during this period.
History & Provenance
Hendrik Martenszoon Sorgh painted Storm on the Meuse River in 1668. The marine artwork, executed in oil paint on a panel, depicts a ship enduring a storm on the Meuse River. The piece measures 47.5 by 64.5 centimeters.
Regarding its ownership chain, the painting was formerly owned by Leendert Dupper. It is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
Storm on the Meuse River is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. According to the available records, the painting was formerly owned by Leendert Dupper before entering the museum's holdings. No specific inventory or accession number is documented in the supplied sources, and no exhibition history is recorded.
The work, an oil-on-panel marine painting dated 1668, is catalogued through the Wikidata entry associated with the Rijksmuseum collection.
Overview
Painted in 1668, Storm on the Meuse River is a marine landscape by the Dutch Golden Age artist Hendrik Martenszoon Sorgh. The composition depicts three vessels navigating the turbulent waters of the Meuse River during a severe squall. Sorgh arranges the scene to emphasize the overwhelming power of nature, positioning the ships as small, vulnerable elements against a churning sea and a dramatic, cloud-filled sky.
The artist employs thick, textured brushstrokes to render the violent motion of the waves, creating a palpable sense of white foam and instability. Contrasting dark storm clouds are illuminated by breaks of light, a technique that heightens the atmospheric tension and directs the viewer's eye across the canvas. This work exemplifies Sorgh's mature style, characterized by a focus on maritime drama and the realistic depiction of weather conditions.
Created late in his career, the painting reflects the Dutch tradition of marine art, where the sea serves not merely as a setting but as an active, formidable force. The piece stands as a testament to Sorgh's ability to capture the immediacy of a storm, balancing detailed observation of the vessels with the expressive rendering of the natural elements.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Hendrik Martenszoon Sorgh (1610–1670) was an artist, born in Rotterdam.















